Samajwadi Party, which is predicted by exit polls to emerge the single largest party, is hopeful that it would get a majority on its own and was confident that it may not need the support of others.
Congress and BJP on Monday declared that they will sit in the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh if they do not not get majority, a stand that could make government formation a difficult task in case of a hung verdict tomorrow.
Samajwadi Party, which is predicted by exit polls to emerge the single largest party, is hopeful that it would get a majority on its own and was confident that it may not need the support of others.
However, even as the Congress high command appears to have snubbed him for voicing the view that BSP would be a better ally, Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma stuck to his stand that the party should have no truck with the SP, which he had left a few years ago on differences with Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Akhilesh Yadav, who led a spirited campaign in reviving the SP's fortunes, maintained that it would be his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, who would be the Chief Minister if it gets a majority.
A day after Verma created a flutter in the party by pitching for a tieup with BSP, Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said that the party will sit in the opposition if it does not get a majority.
"Congress will form a government if it gets majority. It will sit in the Opposition if it does not. The party has not changed its position so far. It is the democratic spirit," Dwivedi told reporters on the eve of counting of votes in U P and four other states.
Dwivedi, who is also AICC Media Department Chairman, sought to silence leaders like Verma who have been giving "individual" views on the issue.
"Individuals may have different views but decision is that of the party, which is binding on all. It is also true in the case of Uttar Pradesh", Dwivedi said.
His remarks also came in the wake of party MP PL Punia, a friend-turned-foe of BSP supremo Mayawati, who has vehemently ruled out any post-poll tieup with BSP, dismissing Verma's remarks as "absolutely personal".
Verma is a known detractor of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose close associate he was till a few years back. Punia was the pointsman of Mayawati having been her Principal Secretary when she was Chief Minister earlier.
Union Minister Rajeev Shukla claimed that Congress will play a crucial role in formation of the next government in Uttar Pradesh
Rejecting as "hypothetical" suggestions that Rahul Gandhi needed to take the blame if the party performed poorly in Uttar Pradesh, Shukla said party's performance will be "very good" and the results will lead to revival of the party.
Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj ruled out supporting any other party in government formation in Uttar Pradesh.
"Our party president has categorically said that we will either form the government or sit in the opposition," Swaraj told reporters.
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